It’s been another strong period of momentum across the Breakthrough Victoria portfolio, with companies continuing to secure major grants, international partnerships, regulatory milestones and global recognition. Here's a wrap of some of the good news across April and May this year.
- Number 8 Bio received $1.77 million in Industry Growth Program funding to scale manufacturing for BetterFeedPro, a feed supplement designed to reduce methane emissions from livestock, with the grant also supporting field trials with major beef and dairy operators. It also announced a multi-year co-investment partnership with Meat & Livestock Australia to bring BetterFeed to market.
- Xefco secured almost $5 million in Industry Growth Program funding to manufacture its Ausora® systems and commercialise its waterless textile dyeing technology, designed to eliminate water and wastewater discharge from the dyeing process. It also launched the Ausora® system at it's Geelong manufacturing hub to a great reception, with an article written titled " Has a Geelong company solved fashion’s biggest problem? "
- Symex’s IVF treatment patch was featured by 7NEWS as a “revolutionary patch” that could transform IVF treatment for Australian women.
- RayGen expanded into Brazil through a new clean energy collaboration focused on delivering long-duration solar and thermal storage solutions. Bosch Australia Manufacturing Solutions also won the Advanced Manufacturing Excellence award at the 2026 Manufacturers’ Monthly Endeavour Awards for its work with RayGen .
- Kite Magnetics was selected for the ABB Startup Challenge 2026 , joining 33 global challengers developing electrification technologies. They were also selected for the Tokyo Beyond Makers Program, supporting the company’s international growth and expansion into Japan.
- Liquid Instruments raised a Series C round that valued the Canberra startup at $400 million, with customers including NVIDIA, BYD and Blue Origin. Breakthrough Victoria followed-on its initial investment.
- Samsara Eco was named on CNBC's annual Disruptor 50 list, won Techtextil’s Innovation Award for New Recycling Materials and Recycled Technologies, recognising its enzymatic recycling technology and also announced a 10-year partnership with LKSD to support the commercialisation and scale-up of recycled materials: ""="">
- Eden Brew received US GRAS clearance for its precision fermentation-derived casein ingredient, supporting expansion into the US market.
- EntroMat signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology (Fraunhofer ILT) to collaborate on advanced manufacturing technologies
- Infleqtion signed a $100 million letter of intent with the US Department of Commerce's CHIPS for America R&D Office, supporting the deployment of its quantum technologies.
- Jupiter Ionics presented to Monash Innovation Labs as part of a showcase of deep tech startups and research commercialisation, it was featured in a Monash University case study video detailing its journey “from lab to scale”, and it was profiled by the ABC Science team in a feature on alternative fertiliser production methods , highlighting founder Douglas MacFarlane’s electrolytic cell technology for producing green ammonia without fossil fuels.
- Quantum Brilliance’s Marcus Doherty joined an Australian Industry Group webinar discussing the future of quantum technology .
- ElectraLith founder Charlie McGill presented at the World Economic Forum on direct lithium extraction and critical minerals innovation - you can read the three pillars he shared as "essential to a bankable project" here.
- Cerulea Clinical Trials marked its second birthday on International Clinical Trials Day, brining together ophthalmologists, study coordinators and clinical trial participants at its facility in Melbourne to mark this milestone with talks and guided tours.
- Aravax strengthened its leadership team with new board appointments, including Carsten Thiel and Christine Roth.
- Navi Medical Technologies expanded the approved clinical use of its Neonav® system to include umbilical venous catheter placement in newborns, making it the only device cleared for that procedure worldwide.
- Atmo Biosciences received FDA clearance for its Gastrointestinal Contractility Frequency Map technology, expanding the capabilities of its ingestible capsule platform.
- Amber Electric’s technology launched in the UK through E.ON Next’s “Next Optimise” service, enabling homes to automatically charge batteries when energy prices are low and export power when prices spike.